Would you mind sharing your experiences of different continental school shoe brands with me please?
DD is 6 and in P2. So far we have tried Ricosta and Lelli Kelly.
The Ricosta shoes were great and lasted a full year. She had the full shoes similar to boys ones but with some flowers on them and some of the girls in her class made fun of her 'boy' shoes. She has begged me not to buy that style again. I would consider the Mary Jane style Ricosta but not sure if they would be as hard wearing.
The Lelli Kelly shoes were also nice and have worn well (we had the plain navy patent ones with no bling or changeable strap nonsense). They have now been out grown and she is in a cheap (but still leather) Tesco pair that have held up surprisingly well so far. I had initially bought them as stop gap until I could afford better ones but I think they might see the school year out as we only have 8 weeks left.
I am now planning my budget for next the school year and shoes are always the biggest expense so I would like to get some ideas on quality, fit and durability. DD is not a toe scuffer or particularly hard on her shoes.
I have been looking at Geox, Superfit, Noel, Petasil and Pediped. I am happy for recommendations of other brands but would like to avoid clarks as I find them quality poor for the price and startrite make her feet look like boats (long skinny feet that are disproportionally large in comparison to her petite little self).
I would prefer the shoes to be leather inside as well as out (another thing clarks don't do)